OF N.Z. INTEREST.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18263, 23 December 1924, Page 15

OF N.Z. INTEREST.

♦- ANTIQUATED ARGUMENTS. (jnOJt oixb omr cotßzarosotrr.) LONDON, October 30. During tho progress of the election campaign it wa3 natural that tho name j of Russia should bo in every candidate's mouth, bub every Conservative and Liberal speaker has contrived to give New 2/cala.nd a. little advertisement as well. It was inevitable that tho comparison of trado figures should bo made between New Zealand and Kussia, thus: "While the Labour Tarty were not prepared to do trade with the Dominions of their own country they were ready to w'ork overtime to do trade with tho enemies of England. Even if Kussia could be reconstituted into ono country and become prosperous again, she could only be worth to England the trade one single Dominion, that of New Zealand." Similar statements, some, of course, providing the actual trade figures, have been repeated a thousand times throughout tho country, and havo appeared in innumerable newspapers. New Zealand, however, figures in another connexion in the election campaign—the nationalisation of mines, which is ono of planks in the Labour platform. In New Zealand," it has moro than once been stated, "the mines were originallyopened bv the State to supply cheaper coal to tho general public and to otlicr State Departments, mainly r.ulw a ;T®' Coal supply depots were oponcd iu main towns, but most of these are now closedfand the output of the mines goes chiefly to bunkering and tho gasworks. Nationalised mines have been a source of constant anxiety to the New Zealand Government, owing to tho continued unrest for which they had been conspicu--0U5." Fossilised Folk. "Time and Tide" is an advanced women's journal, and has no sympathy for what it conceives to be ideas. IV rejecting ,1 Bill to f daut women as Justices of the Peace, it hao this to sav of New Zealand peopk. "What a misleading word New is when applied to New Zealand, or at any rate 1„ the male members of its <.outieu These fossilised folk—if judged 'J*™ , words —in rejecting a Bill to admit women as Justices of tho Fcace trot tea ] out arguments of a _ boary antiqm ,> which one has long since relegated to the "ioke department. I w-jsh space ! aJlowed of full quotation from an account sent, to me by a reader to ™ present—they must be read to be le lieved. Oh. ladies of N'cw Zealand, be women!" Cabbage Trees in Arraji. "The Graphic" this week reproduces C. charming picture of New Zealand cabbage trees and other trees Ot trie Southern Hemisphere. It represents a garden in the northern islo or Arran. Tho letterpress beneath the picture is inaccurate in some roapects, but si least it indicates what can be grown on the shores washed by the Gulf Stream. "London has had its tropical spell in October," it is said, "but many ' people will be surprised to learn that there are some little tropical Ga-idcns of Eden so far north as the Isle of Arran. The climate thero is of Euch a mild and salubrious nature that the late "Rev. Dr. David Landsborough, of Kilmarnock, thought it a likely place to sow some eeeds which his brothers had sent to him from Australia and New Zealand. There were comparativelr few failures in his experiments, ar.d,"as the photo ebows, there arc now some fine specimens of Australian palms (Cordvline australis) which have stood the test of the years. The place i 3 Wbitefarland, Arran, but another vfrv fine collection is at 'Cromla' Cor'rie, the manse of the Rev. .Tames Brown. Besidesthe Australian variety 0? palm tr<*e. there arc eucalyptus, the bush l'cvn of Australia, the Chusan fan palm, several varieties of camellia, and a host of other plants one usually expects to see in greenhouses; but here,

strange to sav, they thrive in the opon air without protection.'' Jockeys' Caps. The sporting writer of ''The People" refers to the new protective cups for jumping jockeys. It appears that those in use in England are not altogether approved of by tlio riders. "i'ew jockeys have, had more accidents than Matt Hopper," says tin; writer, "who has bad vast experience I of riding both in England und on the Continent, and he has had sent from New Zealand tho cap in use there. The National Hunt authorities might with advantage inspect this New Zealand contrivance. It disposes of tho objections our jockeys have to the protective cap. 1 would point out that hunting men and polo players can keep their caps on their heads, so why not jockeys." Keal Flowers. A writer signing herself or himself '"A.A.A." gives a very good testimonial in tho ''Glasgow Herald" to tho girls, of New Zealand. "Young people iri Now Zealand are delightful company,'' says this writer. "Tho girls aro competent, healthy, nicely dressed, and good-looking; they ltavo pretty complexions, abundant hair, and thoroughly well-cared-for teeth; thoir beauty does not coma out of jars. After Los Angeles girls, with their lip-sticks, their pluckod eyebrows, their touched-up eyelashes, their eyes swimming in lustre-making liquid, their powder and paint, their hoboed, waved, and shingled hair, their manicured nails, and their slim massaged ankles, and their knowing little ways, New Zealand gi?ls soem like real [■ flowers. Thov sing and ulay more than American girls do; they take their music when tkoy go out to si>end 341 evening, and ouite often sewing also, and for New Zealand girls there appear to bo other employments than dancing and motoring. They play a good, steady game of golf, know the points of a horse, ride, and drive, take an intelligent interest in horseracing, and usually swim and divo well. I find them much more competent in domestic affaire than home girls; the home crirl who 'can do anything and everything' is rather an exception, while hero they all seem to l>e ahlo to do everything ten fingers can do.